The changing of seasons from summer to fall elicits feelings of nostalgia and excitement. When school is back in session and the weather begins to cool there are football games to attend, pumpkin-flavored treats to eat, and a season of holidays to celebrate. This fall, however, many people find themselves struggling with the devastation left by storms and natural disasters. August and September were particularly challenging months, with three brutal hurricanes ripping through Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico, as well as several earthquakes that destroyed Mexico City.

With so many people in need of help, Illinois State University students have taken action and aided with the relief effort. Lindsey Earl, a graduate student placed in Houston, Texas, as part of the Stevenson Center Applied Community and Economic Development (ACED) program, volunteered for shifts with the Red Cross after Hurricane Harvey hit Texas and Louisiana. The Illinois State Football Team gathered and donated shoes and shirts to help individuals in Houston. However, there are still thousands of people in need of assistance.

Illinois State employees can utilize this year’s SECA campaign to give to those who have been impacted by these storms and earthquakes. One hundred percent of contributions are sent directly to the designated charities. Here are a few SECA-approved charities that are helping in the devastated regions:

Americares

Brother’s Brother Foundation

Catholic Relief Services-USCCB

Children’s Hunger Fund Foundation

Direct Relief International

Episcopal Relief and Development

Giving Children Hope

International Orthodox Christian Charities

International Relief Teams

Matthew 25: Ministries

Medical teams International

Operation USA

Save the Children

UNICEF USA

World Relief

World Vision

Donating to charities through the SECA program is one way to make sure your contributions help those people struggling in areas of disaster. SECA allows all state employees to donate to local, state, national, and international charities that have been vetted through the state and supports nearly 2,000 charities. For more information about the SECA campaign and a full list of charities, visit the website. The campaign runs through November 8.